THE SIX FAMOUS POETS, "KISEN HOSHI" c. 19th century

Curator: Utagawa Hiroshige’s woodblock print, "Kisen Hoshi" from the series "The Six Famous Poets," presents a contemplative scene. The figure's gaze upward gives the print a strong vertical emphasis. Editor: I'm immediately drawn to the calming blues and greens, and how that limited palette focuses my attention on the monk and the flowing waterfall. Curator: Hiroshige capitalizes on the rising popularity of landscape prints to portray the monk Kisen, known for his reclusive lifestyle and dedication to poetry. Editor: The texture created through the printmaking process is lovely, a semiotic link between the natural world represented, and the manual nature of art production. Curator: It is interesting how Hiroshige references a historical figure, but also touches on the changing perception of poets within a rapidly modernizing Japan. Editor: I like the way the fence in the foreground creates depth, guiding our eye up to the misty mountains and the deer on the hillside. Curator: Indeed, a peaceful reflection on the relationship of man and nature, art and society. Editor: A beautifully balanced composition that speaks to the harmony between artistic expression and the world around us.